Specialist officers searching for missing former England rugby player Tom Foyce found a body close to where he was swept away while trying to drive across a swollen river, police said.
Concerns were raised about the 43-year-old former winger on Sunday after he failed to return home following an outing with friends on Saturday.
His Toyota Hilux was recovered downstream from Abberwick Ford on the River Allen outside Alnwick, Northumberland, and police suspected he had been swept away while trying to escape the vehicle.
River levels were particularly high at the weekend when Storm Darragh hit the UK.
Foyce won nine caps for England during his rugby career
A major search operation was launched involving Northumbria Police, drones, a police helicopter, coastguard officers and mountain rescue teams in the North Tyne and Northumberland National Park. Family and friends of the beloved former rugby player have also joined the search.
Northumbria Police said they faced “extremely difficult conditions, not least because the river is flowing and levels are rising significantly following exceptionally heavy rain over the weekend”.
On Thursday, specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit made the sad discovery in the river near Aberwick Mill.
The force said formal identification had not yet taken place, but Voice’s next of kin had been notified and were being supported by specialist officers.
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a very sad development and our thoughts remain with Tom’s loved ones.”
“I would like to thank all our officers, partners and volunteers for their assistance throughout the search operations which were conducted in very difficult circumstances.
“We will continue to ask people to respect the family’s privacy at this time.”
Officers do not believe there was any third party involvement and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The rugby world expressed shock and sadness when he disappeared, including messages from World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Lawrence Dallaglio, who lost his sister in the Marchioness disaster on the River Thames in 1989.
Foyce earned nine England caps during his career and spent six years at Wasps, from 2003 to 2009, where he helped them win European and domestic titles. He moved there from Bath and then left to join Gloucester in 2009.
He made 220 Premier League appearances before retiring in May 2013.
It is understood that Voice, who grew up in Cornwall, moved to Northumberland recently after living in London.
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